PRICE OF SCHOOL BOOKS

Taranaki Daily News, 26 January 1934, Page 9

PRICE OF SCHOOL BOOKS

LAST YEAR’S REDUCTIONS REMAIN POSITION AT NEW PLYMOUTH. Last year’s reductions in the price of school text books and requisites are being adhered to this year, according to several New Plymouth booksellers who were approached by the Daily News yesterday. Most of the text books remain the same as a year ago,' though by a trade arrangement a certain reader in popular use is being retailed at a lower price than a year ago. In regard to stationery, it is claimed by shopkeepers that the quality of paper in pads and exercise books is better than hitherto, though this has been made possible in some cases only by a slight reduction in the number of leaves. The small trade discount that the text book publishers have allowed retailers has, of recent years, permitted little profit to be made. Some firms,, as a result, have been forced to add a penny in the shilling in order to make that department of their business pay. The shopkeepers, however, are emphatic that the public is being fairly treated as far as they are concerned. 1.

The position in certain districts appears to be different. _ Shops in some centres have, added as much as 3d and 4d in the shilling to the publication prices, claiming that this no more than repays them. for freight and postage charges. . ’ ’

With regard to stationery, competition from firms other than booksellers has brought the cost of. these requisites down to a fine price. Quality in regard to pad and exercise book paper has been improved, though in some cases the number of leaves has been' reduced? One store, however, offers for one shilling a pad of 250 pages, 50 more pages than it has been possible to include in the past for the'same price. School shopping has not commenced in earnest yet, though most firms report having sold a few parcels. It is expected that the rush will set in next week.